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• Hisham denies Australian firm bought brother’s clout
• PAS a ‘pseudo-Umno’ party, says Nazri
• Najib’s economic advisers feared NEM just for show
• Anwar fails in third attempt to disqualify Sodomy II judge
• Kit Siang: Mukhriz’s PAS polls claim shows BN cannot change
• Comprehensive exercise soon to legalise and send illegal immigrants home
• PAS dynamism is restored
• As Malaysia’s assets wane, Umno scrambles for wealth control
• Plight of Hindus in Pak, Malaysia worrisome: BJP

Hisham denies Australian firm bought brother’s clout Posted: 05 Jun 2011 07:05 PM PDT   By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein denied today a report that his brother was paid to help win contracts for an Australian banknote supply firm. "I am not just denying it, it is not true," the home minister said at a press conference here. Australian daily The Age reported that Securency International, half-owned by Australia's central bank, signed on Liberal Technology as its Malaysian agent in 2009 with the expectation that its biggest shareholder, Datuk Haris Onn Hussein, would "offer it access to, and influence over, Malaysia's top politicians." Haris, also chairman of Liberal Technology, is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's cousin and brother to Hishammuddin, who will head to Canberra soon to sign a deal which will see Australia transfer 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia and accept 4,000 refugees in return. "My brother? One, I tell you the truth, I don't know what my brother is doing. Secondly, I don't think Australia would do it. Thirdly, there is no link at all to what I'm doing with Australia, simple as that," the Umno vice president added. However, Securency is not believed to have won any further banknote supply contracts from the Malaysian government despite engaging Haris, who owns shares in or sits on the board of several companies that have benefited from government concessions like mandatory security labels for cigarette and alcohol manufacturers, and toll highways. The Age also stressed that it was not suggesting that either Najib or Hishammuddin were involved in Securency's dealings here. The company last won a major contract here in 2004 and a smaller one in 1998 with the help of arms broker and former Umno official Abdul Kayum Syed Ahmad. He has since been arrested and questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the deals and his use of commissions paid by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) firm. Securency, a leading global supplier of plastic banknotes, has been investigated for two years by the Australian Federal Police and the British Serious Fraud Office for allegedly bribing public officials in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nigeria to win supply contracts. Under Australian law, it is a criminal offence for a company or individual to pay, or offer a benefit to, foreign government officials or their close relatives to obtain a business advantage. READ MORE HERE.

PAS a ‘pseudo-Umno’ party, says Nazri Posted: 05 Jun 2011 06:02 PM PDT   (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz has described PAS as a "pseudo-Umno" party, claiming it had abandoned its Islamic principles for the sake of political power. The Umno supreme council member and senior minister however said it would be good for Umno if PAS was attempting to offer itself as an alternative as the ruling party already has a good track record with the people. "Honestly, I worry... they will give us a good fight in the election if PAS remains an Islamist party. That worries me because there are elements in Malay-Muslim society who believe that what PAS is doing for the Islamic state is correct. "But if they become like Umno, elections will be easier to face because we have a track record. Otherwise, it will be a hard fight," he told a press conference today. Nazri also echoed the views of Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who said yesterday that by preaching its welfare state plan, PAS had clearly strayed from its Islamic principles. Nazri said that by changing its ideals, PAS was no longer "special" as it was merely trying to sell itself as an alternative to Umno. He also agreed with Muhyiddin that Malaysia, under Barisan Nasional's rule, had long ago implemented the welfare state concept by prioritising the needs of the poor and unfortunate. "There is nothing special about PAS now. They changed their struggle... last time, it was Islamic state. Now, welfare state. "Umno realised this over 50 years ago and they need 57 meetings to become aware. So now you know who is the smarter Malay," he said. At the same time, however, Nazri admitted there was a likelihood that a large portion of the party's members would still attempt to push for PAS's original Islamic state agenda. He noted that while the progressives, led by popular leader Mohamad Sabu, had edged out the conservative ulama faction during the polls, the multi-cornered fights indicated a split in votes for the latter faction. READ MORE HERE

Najib’s economic advisers feared NEM just for show Posted: 05 Jun 2011 05:58 PM PDT (The Malaysian Insider) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak's economic advisers were worried that the prime minister's New Economic Model (NEM) brainchild was just a short-term public relations exercise without any lasting policy impact, according to a leaked United States diplomatic cable. According to the cable released by whistleblower website Wikileaks, the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) was frustrated with the slow responses from government ministries and the lack of high-level political commitment outside of the prime minister's office. The entire cable, which quoted NEAC acting director of research Tong Yee Siong and American Chamber's Nicholas Zeffries, among others, was published in the Malaysia Today news portal today. "Tong told us that achieving any of the goals developed by the NEAC will require significant political buy-in to operationalize the policy changes necessary to reinvigorate investment and spur additional growth. "However, Tong commented that NEAC members are frustrated with a lack of high-level political commitment outside of PM Najib as well as the slow responses from Ministries which impeded progress on the NEM," according to the cable sent from the US Embassy here to Washington. It quoted Tong further as saying "that some NEAC members are concerned that the NEM maybe merely a public relations exercise that will have no real long-term policy impact. "Zeffries told us that he was not confident that PM Najib has a sufficiently strong political position to pursue the NEAC's upcoming proposals," the cable added further. Najib launched the NEM last year in two parts but dropped certain sections including one on the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) which was severely criticised by NEAC member, the late Datuk Dr Zainal Aznam Mohd Yusof. Zainal Aznam, who died on April 30, accused the Najib administration of succumbing to Perkasa and lacking the political will to implement reforms, including the formation of the EOC. In a summary in the cable, US diplomats said: "Leading Malaysian economists believe that Najib is sincere in his desire to address these problems. "However, they question his ability to make major changes in the government's long-standing discriminatory Bumiputera preference policies which have discouraged domestic investment and new business formation and are driving the 'brain drain' of young professional Malaysians frustrated with limited opportunities under this system." The diplomats said local economists expect Najib's effort "to establish a policy framework that will foster a more gradual move away from ethnic preferences to a merit-based economy, but believe that may be insufficient". READ MORE HERE

Anwar fails in third attempt to disqualify Sodomy II judge Posted: 05 Jun 2011 02:09 PM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today failed to disqualify Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah from presiding over his Sodomy II trial for the third time. The judge felt the defence's recusal application against him lacked "merit". "Application has no merit, therefore rejected," said an abrupt Mohd Zabidin. Anwar had wanted Mohd Zabidin to step down as the judge in the Sodomy II trial for "prejudging" the trial even before the opposition leader had a chance to enter his defence. The judge had ruled on May 16 that Anwar would have to defend himself on a charge of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan three years ago, and concluded there was a prima facie case against the 63-year-old Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader. The PKR de facto leader has accused the judge of bias in his May 16 decision for ruling that there was a prima facie case in the charge against him. According to Anwar, the judge accepted the prosecution's arguments wholesale, despite the defence's objection against complainant Saiful's credibility as the star witness. Earlier today, lead prosecutor Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden accused the defence of trying to derail and delay the trial. He said that Saiful's testimony, backed by independent experts established "credible" evidence in charge against the accused. "This is your chance to give your defence under oath," Yusof told Anwar, and said in court that the Opposition leader had no qualms about giving his "version" as to what had happened on the day of the alleged offence to everyone else outside of court. This prompted Anwar to shout "When? When?" Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh said that the defence would appeal the judge's decision, and wanted a stay of proceedings pending the appeal. This was objected by Yusof, who said that an earlier court of appeals ruling on Anwar's previous attempt to disqualify the judge ruled that such a move was not appealable. But Karpal, in his reply said that the reasons for the latest disqualification was different from previous ones, and therefore the court of appeals ruling did not apply. Mohd Zabidin fixed July 13 for case mention. The notice of appeal will be filed by Anwar's lawyers this afternoon.   READ MORE HERE.

Kit Siang: Mukhriz’s PAS polls claim shows BN cannot change Posted: 05 Jun 2011 02:02 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang slammed Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir today for claiming that the PAS party poll results show that the DAP and PKR have influenced the Islamist party into sidelining its ulama faction. Lim said the Umno Youth executive councillor's "wild, baseless and irrational" claims were proof that no one in Umno or Barisan Nasional (BN) could live up to the aspirations of young Malaysians, who wanted a better Malaysia after "lost decades" under the ruling coalition's rule. Mukhriz said on Saturday that the rise of the professional, or Erdogan, faction in PAS's top leadership showed that the party now only championed the multi-racial line of its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners and no longer fought for the Islamic state. "Congratulations to the DAP and PKR for succeeding to influence PAS to the extent that only those aligned to them were elected as PAS vice-presidents and even the deputy president," he had told reporters in Jerlun. "The influence of the DAP and PKR in PAS is very substantial. This does not reflect that PAS is free from the influence of those who are actually against Islam." Lim asked whether "Umno wannabe" Mukhriz would be prepared when youths rise up against BN rule in Malaysia despite a recent call by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for youths to defend the administrative capital. READ MORE HERE.

Comprehensive exercise soon to legalise and send illegal immigrants home Posted: 05 Jun 2011 10:36 AM PDT By Sarban Singh, The Star SEREMBAN: A large-scale legalisation and amnesty exercise is expected to be held next month to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in Malaysia, estimated at about two million. The programme, which will take three weeks, will be codenamed "6P" pendaftaran (registration), pemutihan (legalisation), pengampunan (amnesty), pemantauan (supervision), penguatkuasaan (enforcement) and pengusiran (deportation). This is the most comprehensive programme ever introduced by the Home Ministry to cut down the number of illegal immigrants. Previously, such moves were limited to repatriation exercises. Amnesty programmes have been held several times, the most recent being last year. A senior official from the ministry said the immigrants would have three weeks to take up the offer or face the law if they are arrested without valid travel documents or work permits.

PAS dynamism is restored Posted: 05 Jun 2011 10:33 AM PDT By Zainon Ahmad, The Sun IF the late nationalist Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy --- PAS's third president who did much to turn the Umno breakaway into a strong party with its own identity and ideology --- were alive today he would probably be pleased with this year's muktamar. He would be happy to note that the delegates to the muktamar had no qualms at all about criticizing ulamas for their unwillingness to encourage progressive thinking among Muslims in the country. One ulama who was lampooned was Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria who was referred to as "poco-poco" ulama for banning the dance in the state but refused to censure efforts to make public a sex video in which an opposition leader was said to be involved. The different tenor of the debates was as if some aspects of the Islamist-nationalist philosophy Burhanuddin had striven to propagate as the party's ideology are reemerging and seem to have inspired members to take the present course of deemphasizing ethnicity and the Islamic state agenda. Burhanuddin had struggled to give the then fledgling party --- with the names of many of its members still registered with Umno --- character and strength to fight the mother party's efforts to re-absorb it. To his credit in 1959 PAS captured Kelantan. There was no talk of race or ethnicity then and there was easy mixing between PAS leaders and leaders of the labour and socialist parties. Race was only emphasized under the leadership of Datuk Asri Muda. As for the Islamic state agenda it became part of the party struggle under Yusof Rawa who took over the leadership of the party after the Iranian Revolution of 1979.  The agenda took a definite shape under Datuk Fadzil Noor and Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who promoted the idea of leadership by the ulama. It was this agenda that had been the stumbling block to attempts at electoral understanding with other opposition parties, especially the DAP, to deny the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) its dominance in the national legislature. PAS gained new members and support following widespread protests against the sacking of deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim which the party capitalised on to win its most number of parliamentary seats, 27, for the first time. Most of the new members, including those who joined after 2008, began to influence the  leaders to stay with Pakatan Rakyat and to undertake reform to facilitate the smooth functioning of the grouping. To these reform-minded members, which includes professionals as well as ulama, it was time for the party to move on from being a mere opposition party to being part of a governing group. They were, of course, challenged by another group of members who prefer to be part of the existing ruling group, Umno or BN, to be achieved through a process touted as Malay unity. Among those who flirted with the idea was deputy president and ulama Nasharudin Mat Isa. It was clear to the reformists that he had to go. When it became apparent that he had the support of the conservative ulama in his bid to defend his position against Mohamad Sabu or Mat Sabu, another ulama -- Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man -- was persuaded to contest. The ulama vote was split and firebrand and street wise non-ulama won the deputy presidency for the first time. The reformists also won all the three vice-president posts and most of the central working committee seats. The position of Hadi Awang as president could have been affected but for the tradition that the president remain unchallenged. He had earlier on been seen as close to Nasharudin, something party spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat was not too pleased about. Thus it came as no surprise to delegates that in his speeches he rejected completely unity with Umno. It was also a signal to delegates. The Islamic state agenda was mentioned but much downplayed. It is expected to be on the backburner until it is allowed to fade away or until such time as the party is ready to review its position in the party struggle. Coming close to the general election there is fear that the rural voters may misunderstand. Malay unity talk was fiercely criticized by the delegates, many of whom said it was aimed at benefiting Umno and the BN only. "Why share the Malay votes with Umno when we can compete and win them all," said a delegate yesterday, reflecting that a new and more confident party has emerged from the 57th muktamar.

As Malaysia’s assets wane, Umno scrambles for wealth control Posted: 05 Jun 2011 10:14 AM PDT By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 — The fight is on for the country's diminishing resources and assets, and leading the charge to secure rights to projects and land ownership are Umno warlords and politically-connected individuals. As Malaysia grapples with imminent tariff hikes and a subsidy bill that could double to RM21 billion this year, individuals within the ruling Malay party appear to be wasting little time in demanding that the Najib administration award them immediate rights to government and commercial projects. This is evident in the current tussle surrounding Umno's attacks on UDA Holdings Bhd's sale of prime land in downtown Kuala Lumpur, where despite the agency's assurance that the sale to Mutiara Goodyear would benefit Bumiputeras, Umno leaders have attacked the agency, saying RM215.5 million deal would hurt Bumiputera interests. "With the government announcement of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and projects, these people want to take advantage of the situation, they want a share of the pie," said Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian. "There is an expectation that for continued political support, Umno needs to be economically secure, and what we are seeing now is a scramble for diminishing assets, properties," Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider. UDA has also come under fire recently from Malay hardliners in Umno and Perkasa as well as Utusan Malaysia for allegedly abandoning the Bumiputera agenda after it chose not to appoint Bumiputera joint-venture turnkey investors for the proposed Bukit Bintang City Centre, located on prime land in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle. Umno leaders have alleged that there are several Bumiputera companies that were more than capable to be part of the redevelopment project, but were overlooked by the agency. Another project that has come under fire from Malay hardliners is the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project where they have won a concession to allow consortiums to pre-qualify for the country's most expensive infrastructure project. Project owners Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad had earlier restricted the tenders to construction companies with higher capital and longer experience but acceded to demands led by Perkasa, the Malay rights group. Merdeka Center's Ibrahim said that the trend in Umno's growing demands in acquiring government and commercial projects showed a continuation of an oft-clichéd practice of money politics within the party. According to Ibrahim, Umno still used political connections to maximise its own profits.   READ MORE HERE.

Plight of Hindus in Pak, Malaysia worrisome: BJP Posted: 05 Jun 2011 09:04 AM PDT   By The Times of India   CHANDIGARH: Alleging violation of human rights of Hindus in Pakistan and Malaysia, the BJP on Sunday sought intervention of the President and the Prime Minister in the matter. Talking to reporters here, BJP's Human Rights cell in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna alleged the plight of Hindus in both the countries was worrisome. " Girls belonging to the Hindu community in Pakistan are being forced to convert," he said alleging they were also being subjected to sexual assaults. "Even courts in Pakistan are not helping the Hindu community," Khanna said. On the plight of Hindus in Malaysia, he alleged around 4.5 lakh Hindus in the country were "stateless" as they had not been provided birth certificates by the government there.   READ MORE HERE.

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